#VU94806 Unchecked return value in Linux kernel - CVE-2005-2553

Vulnerability identifier: #VU94806

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 1.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2005-2553

CWE-ID: CWE-252

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to perform service disruption.

The find_target function in ptrace32.c in the Linux kernel 2.4.x before 2.4.29 does not properly handle a NULL return value from another function, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel crash/oops) by running a 32-bit ltrace program with the -i option on a 64-bit executable program.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

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External links
https://lkml.org/lkml/2005/1/5/245
https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/14965
https://www.debian.org/security/2005/dsa-921
https://secunia.com/advisories/18059
https://wwwnew.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2006:044
https://secunia.com/advisories/18977
https://lists.suse.de/archive/suse-security-announce/2006-Feb/0010.html
https://secunia.com/advisories/19038
https://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2005-663.html
https://secunia.com/advisories/17002
https://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2005/1878
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9647
https://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/428058/100/0/threaded
https://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.4/cset%4041dd3455GwQPufrGvBJjcUOXQa3WXA

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.